Back from vacation!

Well, my vacation was a success. I was about at my breaking point the day before my vacation and just kept talking to myself that I was leaving the next day. When I got on the plane, I felt such a sense of relief. Relief that I could just be myself without having to worry about work, bills, drama, etc. I had one of the most relaxing vacations I can remember. I didn't do anything spectacular or even what some people would consider fun, but I can tell that when I got back, I feel more like myself again. People at the office yesterday were even commenting that I seemed different. I'm not feeling tired like I had been and I finally don't feel sick. I'm hoping that my next vacation isn't as far away :)

I also want to wish everyone a belated Happy Thanksgiving. I was laying outside watching football for most of the day--enjoying the weather and being around family! I hope you all were able to enjoy the Holiday as well!

Vacation

I don't know that I've ever said what I do in detail...however, lets suffice it to say that it's stressful. Along with that stress comes getting sick more often, feeling tired a lot of the time, and just not being with it all the time. Because of this, the agency I work for, gives 4 weeks of vacation when you start. I really appreciate this vacation time. We also have a "use it or lose it" policy for vacation. I was disappointed about this at first, but after working there almost 2 years, I get it. I need 4 weeks of vacation to stay sane (and at times, come back from being insane). So I leave tomorrow...I'm headed on vacation for a week.

I need it. I know people say they "need" vacation and to get away....I honestly do. These past few months have been trying...not just because of work but also because of thinking a lot about my life path (as talked about in previous posts) and just not feeling myself lately. This is the longest vacation I've taken in a while. I've done long weekend, but haven't done a week since I graduated grad school.

So I'm hoping to come back with less stress..I realize that some of the things I've been stressed about will be here when I get back, I'm just hoping to come back with a different stress level to be able to look at the situations in a different way and not "feel" them so hard. So have a great Thanksgiving everyone and enjoy your family and friends if you are spending it with them!

Vacation

I am often amazed at people who don't take vacations. Oftentimes, I will get so wrapped up in life and work that I no longer feel like myself. It's at those points that I know I just need a break and some time for me. Those are times when I know I need a vacation. A vacation to me is getting away. Since I have a home office, it's often difficult to stay at home because work is always around me. So last Thursday, I took off for Arizona. I spent 6 wonderful days (two days for traveling) in Tucson and absoultely loved it. It was in the 80s every day, and on Monday, I layed in the sun for 4 hours. I can't tell you what that did for me. As I was flying back today, I thought about the time I had for myself, how much I did not think about work, and how relaxed I felt.

I will be the first to admit that I don't handle stress well. I am also a perfectionist when it comes to my work. I don't like things late, I don't like things done wrong and I want to do it right. That can be very overwhelming in the profession I'm in.

So I sit here writing this fully realizing that I can't go on vacation every month (although how awesome would that be?) so I need to make some changes in my life in order to not get the point I was at before the vacation. I'm not sure what that entails yet.

The one thing that vacation does for me is clear my head. I'm able to relax and clear my head in order to make decisions that I normally would not make clearly due to the stress and inability to think clearly. I did a lot of thinking about things and have come to some conclusions. And the best part is that I'm at peace with what I've decided. I'm happy...let's just hope I can keep it going!

Free Time

The past few years, I haven't had much free time. I had forgotten what that term even meant actually. But lately, I have been learning to take some time for myself and not planning things. I have to say, it's been good for me. I am taking time to watch movies I never did, read books I had forgotten about, and gotten enough sleep to where I'm not a walking zombie. I don't feel as rushed and I don't feel as stressed. My job in and of itself is stressful, but I just need to remind myself that everyone needs time alone to regroup and think. I have been doing that lately!

I also decided this weekend to treat myself. I am taking a trip in April to Tucson with one of my friends! I went to Phoenix last year and really enjoyed the weather and the area so I am excited to go back. I am going in early April and can't wait. It's so nice to have things coming up to look forward to! I'll be there from a Thursday until Tuesday. I also have a Great Aunt and Uncle who live near Phoenix (that's who I went to see last year) who I am going to contact and see if I can go up and visit them for a day. So it should be a great time. It should be relaxing. My friend actually rented a house for the week (she's there for 8 days) that has an outdoor grill and an in-ground pool so it should be fun :) I'll be doing a lot of lounging I have a feeling!

So, I am going to go back to relaxing with a new book and doing a lot of nothing...ahhh that's a great feeling!

Vacation time!!!

Well, it's that time again. I am going on vacation. I can't wait. I leave on Thursday morning and won't return until Tuesday afternoon. I am packing and getting ready to go and I am actually giddy because of how excited I am! I am going back to South Carolina and can't wait to just be in the sun, relax and not have to work. I hope to have a lot of pictures when I return and share with you all the details of my trip. Until then, have a great Labor Day weekend and enjoy the extra day off work....I know I will!!!

Dating in the world of single people

I have been the worst blogger lately. I have so much going on and so much I want to share and then I just get busy again. I was off last week on Thursday and Friday (a MUCH needed break from work) and I went to Country USA which is a country festival about 30 min. from my apartment. I had gone before and whether you like country music or not, many people just enjoy the tailgating, camping, and other things about the festival. It was a great time and the best part was I got to spend the weekend with my best friend who came!!!We definitely had some interesting experiences along the way, and we didn't want the weekend to end, but it was a great time! We went to see "Sex and the City" too and I didn't want the movie to end. I've heard some negative things about it, but I was really impressed how smooth of a transition from tv to a movie it was. It was great!

Prior to that weekend, I had gone to another Brewer game and had great seats. I saw my favorite player, Ryan Braun, stretching and warming up below, and went down to get some great shots. That was definitely fun and it was great to see him so close. I swear, we are getting married, he just doesn't know it yet!

So being single has its perks, and I will be the first one to say that, but sometimes it would be nice to have someone. Even just someone to call up and have come over to watch a movie or talk to on the phone for a while. I miss those parts. I miss the going out to dinner or a movie or just sitting around talking. I definitely feel I am ready to date again, I just haven't found anyone that I've felt like dating. I will admit that I am rarely home and when I am, I am too tired to do much of anything. I will also admit that I haven't really "put myself out there" to find anyone. I don't want a guy I meet at a bar. I haven't given up by any means, I'm just discouraged. I was talking with a friend/co-worker today who was talking about having tried internet dating. Now, I have absolutely nothing against anyone who does that, but it's just not for me. I would feel weird about it and just would never have the desire to do that. She gave up after meeting too many weird/creepy guys. So...Mr. Prince Charming I am sure is out there...but like a typical man, he is probably lost and too stubborn to ask for directions to even get to me!

A Look Back...

When I went to South Carolina in December, we spent some time in Charleston. There was the most beautiful bridge that had been built a few years back to connect two cities (darn if I can't remember the cities though!) My aunt had said that when the bridge was finished, they spent a ridiculous amount of money on fireworks when it was officially opened. But it is beautiful. When we were on the boat going out to Fort Sumter, it was great to look back and see the bridge get smaller and smaller.

South Carolina is beautiful to me. I am really enjoying being able to travel as I get older. I appreciate the trips more and enjoy the experiences of seeing different parts of the country. Having gone abroad to Germany and Amsterdam in high school, it's amazing to see how much there is in the United States. I hope to continue to see different parts of the U.S. and really want to accomplish seeing all 50 states. That does however mean I may have to come stay with some of you! What do you think about that?

Where is one place in the US you want to go but haven't yet? Mine is Alaska!

And she's back!

I am back! I wish I was still there, but I'm back. I had a fabulous time in AZ. I flew in on Friday and came back yesterday afternoon (after an hour delay!)

I didn't check my email the entire time I was gone, only talked to my parents on the phone, and read three books. It was extremely relaxing and just what I needed. It was great to see my Grandma along with her brother and his wife. I learned how to play Shuffleboard, Sequence, and Mexican Train Dominoes. I did well with all of them too! My great-uncle thought I should cancel my flight and go to Laughlin, NV with them to gamble since I was so lucky!

I also went to a spring training Brewers v. Cubs game and had a blast! It was so much fun and I couldn't believe all the WI people that drive or fly down to AZ to see spring training. Next year, I am going to take my dad! He doesn't seem excited yet, but I told him I would just book it and then he'd have to come :) I really want to go back to AZ. I've always been told it's a very "dry heat" down there but since I had never experienced it, I wasn't quite sure what they meant. I now understand. There is barely any humidity and it is soooo dry out there. But it makes the heat easier to handle. It was in the 80s while I was there and it was hard to come back to WI where it was in the 40s. (and the 40s are really good for us, but when you were just in 80 degree weather, it's cold!!!)

My biggest surprise was when I returned to my parent's house, my Easter/birthday present was already there. My parents found me a WII! My dad saw it in the Sunday paper at Toys R Us and was the first in line. Then my mom went in after my dad and got one for them too!!! So I can't wait to get that going and play! I was so exhausted last night and didn't even bring it from my parent's house but I will be playing it by this weekend.

Hope everyone else is having a great start to their week. Can you believe Easter is already next weekend? Wow!

And the little one went wii wii wii all the way home!

I want a WII. I can't find a WII. See the problem? I search and search. I swear it has become a new obsession. I can only imagine the people who line up outside stores waiting for them to open just to see if they got a wii in over-night. Okay, I'm not that obsessed, but it's close. If I go past a Wal-Mart, I stop just in case. There hasn't been one there yet, but what if the ONE time I don't stop they have one? Does everyone else have this problem or is it just me? Do other states have tons of them and WI is just slow?

Janet asked if I liked the Melting Pot. I did! I enjoyed being out with friends, and going on Ladies Night (Thursday night) was definitely a treat! The cheese was okay, but the meat, and the CHOCOLATE was amazing! I couldn't believe the dessert trays they brought out! Yummy. I can still imagine all that chocolate. I had a Carmel Apple Martini as well which was good (especially good since it was 2 for 1 martini night!) I would definitely go there again. I think next time I would get a different cheese though. They brought out apples to dip in the cheese. Is it just me or is that weird? I tried it and it was okay, but I seriously wonder who thought, "Let's put some apples with the cheese!" Oh well, we were there for 2 1/2 hours!!! And when I finally looked at the time I could NOT believe it had been that long. Definitely worth it!

Now it's getting ready for AZ on Friday. I can't wait. It's supposed to be 78 degrees the day I fly in. Oh to feel the warm sun again--yes, dramatic but when it hasn't been over 40 in the past 4 months, you would be dramatic too!!!!